The present invention relates to a device which is intended particularly, but not exclusively, for use by 5 soccer players for both physical training and technique training purposes, for instance for simulating the kicking of a football, said device comprising a first, inner container, which encloses material, such as sawdust for instance, and a second, outer container 10 which embraces the first container, wherein at least the outer, second container is constructed from durable and hard wearing material.

Similar to all other ball sports, football training 15 involves both physical training and technique training.

The physical training can be accomplished in many different ways and with the use of many different aids.

Technique training, however, is usually carried out with the aid of one or more footballs, these balls 20 being used in such training exercises as dribbling with the ball, passing the ball, turning with the ball, close-contact exercises etc.

Normally, different types of training material and 25 equipment are required during a training session, in addition to a large number of footballs. Furthermore, much time is taken up in collecting the balls after a training session, for instance when training long-pass kicking of the ball.

30

Background art *

US-A-1 269 559 teaches a device in the form of a foot¬ ball, although in this case an American football which differs greatly in shape from a European soccer ball, 35 to which the inventive device relates. This known

device includes an inner container which is packed hard with filling material. This device cannot be used in physical training exercises or technique training exercises in accordance with the intentions of the present invention.

US-A-2 203 259 teaches a portable device intended for use when practising American football. This device is filled with air and is intended to simulate a player of an opposing team and which can be tackled by said play¬ er. This device is thus a rigid body.

Also forming part of the known technique are so-called medicine balls, i.e. relatively large and relatively heavy air-filled balls used solely for physical train¬ ing purposes.

Accordingly, the object of the present invention is to provide a device intended particularly, but not exclu- sively for use by soccer players and which can be used universally for physical training purposes and which, furthermore, provides an advantageous device for prac¬ tising and performing a number of exercises in playing technique.

The novel device is characterized in that the filling material enclosed within the inner container occupies between 50% and 90% of the total volumetric capacity of the container, preferably about 75%, so that the device will be plasticly deformed when subjected to an exter¬ nal force.

A device thus constructed can be used for physical training purposes, for instance: - the player uses the device as a weight when running,

with the device resting on the player's back, arms or shoulders,

- the player, while laying on his/her back can load his/her arms and/or legs during up-and-down movement - in so-called sit-ups with the device resting on the chest of the player, and for technical training, for instance:

- practising kicks with one or both feet, with the device lying on the ground; when the device is kicked the filling material is pressed yieldingly in the direction of the kick, preferably without the device being moved from its position on the ground,

- quickness in footwork, the feet alternately striking or playing the device, - two players can be positioned on opposite sides of the device and practise close-play without risk of injury.

These are only a number of examples of the manner in which the device can be used for training purposes.

The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to an exemplifying embodiment thereof illu¬ strated in the accompanying drawing, the single Figure of which is a sectional view of the inventive device.

According to the illustrated embodiment, the novel inventive device comprises a first container 10 which may be a plastic bag of given thickness. The container 10 is preferably capable of being opened and closed and is filled with a filling material 12, preferably saw¬ dust. The filling material 12 occupies from 40-95% of the maximum volumetric capacity of the container. Preferably, the filling material fills 75% of the container capacity. Consequently, when filled with such

material to the limit defined, the container will not form a rigid and hard body, but will, instead, exhibit yielding properties, i.e. the material 12 can be dis¬ placed within the container 10 within desired limits. The container 10 partially filled with material 12 is then placed within a durable and hard-wearing outer casing 14 having a thickness. This outer casing may be made of reinforced plastic, a leather-like material, such as boat-canvas or some other suitable material. Although not shown, the outer casing 14 is openable in a known manner.

Due to the nature of the material 12 and its volume in relation to the maximum volumetric capacity of the container 10, the shape of the device will change in various ways, depending upon the exercise concerned. For instance, when the device is kicked it will be indented at the place where it was kicked. The depth of this indentation will depend on the amount of filling material in the container 10. An optimum amount of filling material will be highly individual and is sought to lie within the aforesaid percentage limits. It is important that the material 12 is not packed in the container 10, but is able to move within said container when the device is subjected to an external force.

The size of the container 10 and the outer casing may vary in accordance with the ages of the players con- cerned. Generally, the container 10 and the outer casing will be smaller the younger the players con¬ cerned.

The proposed filling material, sawdust, is intended to afford a device of suitable weight. By selecting some

other material of some other specific weight, the same volume content can result in different weight condi¬ tions.

5 The thickness of the outer casing 14 may, for instance, be twice that of the container.

Although the inventive device is intended primarily for both physical and technical training purposes, where in 10 this latter case the device substitutes for a football, it will be understood that the device can be used solely for one or the other of these purposes.

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